Question

Can you please explain what centripetal force is..

Answer 1

The word centripetal (not to be confused with the F-word centrifugal) means center seeking. For object's moving in circular motion, there is a net force acting towards the center which causes the object to seek the center.

Answer 2

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☛When a body moves along a circular path in a uniform speed, its direction of motion changes at every points.

☛The change in direction involves changes in velocity or acceleration.

☛The force that provide the acceleration and keeps the body moving along a circular path acts towards centre. This force is known as centripetal ( centre seeking) force.

☛This is a force required to make a body move along a circular path with uniform speed.

☛It always acts along the radius and towards the centre of the circular path.

☛Eg:- The motion of the Moon around the earth is due to the centripetal force. The centripetal force is provided by the force of attraction of the earth. If there was no such force, the moon would move in straight line motion.